Push-pull connector

ABSTRACT

A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a resiliently mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, the resiliently mounted retaining member being biased into a first position in which it prevents the tine from moving into a locking position and having a second position into which it is moved against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first and second parts, the tine being free to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, and one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface movable over the cam surface of the latch, the cam surfaces being arranged to cooperate, in operation to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis into the locking position to cause the latch surfaces to engage.

United States Patent [1 1 Bennett [111 3,885,851 [451 May 27, 1 975 PUSH-PULL CONNECTOR [75] Inventor: Jeffrey Bennett, Herne Bay, England [73] Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corporation, Oak

Brook, Ill.

[22] Filed: June 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 371,948

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 26, 1972 United Kingdom 29870/72 [52] US. Cl 339/91 R; 285/319; 403/290 [51] Int. Cl H011 13/54 [58] Field of Search 339/75, 91; 285/277, 315, 285/319; 403/289, 290

Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Norton Lesser; F. M. Arbuckle [5 7] ABSTRACT A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a resiliently mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, the resiliently mounted retaining member being biased into a first position in which it prevents the tine from moving into a locking position and having a second position into which it is moved against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first and second parts, the tine being free to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, and one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface movable over the cam surface of the latch, the cam surfaces being arranged to cooperate, in operation to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis into the locking position to cause the latch surfaces to engage.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PUSH-PULL CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push-pull connector suitable for connecting together two electrical cables or for connecting a cable to a piece of electrical equipment.

2. Description of the Prior Art There is often a requirement that a free plug of such a connector may be engaged and positively retained in a mating receptacle by a single movement of the hand, that the connector should thereafter be secure against any accidental disconnection by pulling the cable away from the equipment and that the plug may be instantly released on a further single movement of the hand.

One form of connector which satisfies the above requirement comprises a plug surrounded by a coupling ring which is axially slidable along a tubular plug body. The plug body includes resiliently mounted detent members which are cammed radially inward by a forward movement of the coupling ring. The receptacle includes a tubular nose which fits within the tubular plug body and which has latching surfaces that cooperate with the detent members for locking the plug and the receptacle together. The plug and the receptacle may then be connected by mating the plug and the receptacle while holding the coupling ring and then continuing to push the coupling ring forward until the detent members are cammed into the locking position. The plug and receptacle may be disconnected by pulling the coupling ring which first lets the detent members move resiliently out of the locking position and then pulls the plug out of the receptacle. A resiliently mounted retaining ring may be provided inside the tubular body of the plug for preventing the detent members from being cammed radially inwards until the plug and the receptacle are mated, which causes the retaining ring to be pushed out of the way of the detent members by the receptacle nose.

The construction of the plug member is complicated and typically requires four detent members with four associated resilient mountings to be. mounted in the wall of a tubular body having slots to enable the detent members to be cammed by the coupling ring. A disadvantage of such a complicated structure is that it is difficult, and therefore expensive, to assemble.

In another form of connector which satisfies the aforementioned requirement, a sleeve is axially slidable on a tubular plug body. But between the mating end of the plug body and the sleeve there are a plurality of forwardly projecting tines with barbed ends. A locked connection is achieved by sliding the tubular body inside a tubular nose of a receptacle causing the barbs to ride over a ridge on the end of the nose and to latch behind it. The sleeve is necessary for disconnecting the plug from the receptacle, which it does by having an inwardly turned rim which forms a hook that lifts the barbs over the ridge when the sleeve is pulled away from the connection.

The plug for this form of connector requires only three parts, namely, a tubular body, a sleeve and a single piece of resilient material for the barbed tines; it is therefore relatively cheap and easy to fabricate. Also, by using a self-lubricating material such as nylon for the tines, it is possible to arrange for all sliding surfaces to be lubricated without any need for oil or grease. This has the advantage of avoiding any tendency of the connector to pick up dust or dirt and so provides a robust connector suitable for use in an adverse environment. A disadvantage, however, is that the locking action re lies entirely on the resilient properties of the tines and there is no positive locking action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a connector which avoids the disadvantages of the connectors already described while retaining the advantages of simplified construction and positive locking.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a resiliently mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, the resiliently mounted retaining member being biased into a first position in which it prevents the tine from moving into a locking position and having a second position into which it is moved against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first and second parts, the tine being free to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, and one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface movable over the cam surface of the latch, the cam surfaces being arranged to cooperate, in operation to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis into the locking position to cause the latch surfaces to engage.

There may be a plurality of tines made from a single piece of resilient material which is preferably a selflubricating material such as nylon. I

The locking member may be a sleeve axially slidabl on the first part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of an unmated plug part with the outer parts partially in cross-section;

FIG. 2 is an elevation similar to FIG. 1 showing a mated plug part, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plastic moulding comprising 8 tines, and

FIG. 3a is a front elevational view of the retaining member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A plug part shown generally as 10 is substantially tubular about an axis 11. Electrical plugs or sockets (not shown) are arranged inside a tube 12 and are connected to a cable (not shown) anchored to the tube beyond the right hand side of the figure. The mating end of the tube 12 carries a plurality of splines 13 to ensure the correct angular orientation of the parts of the connector when mated.

Near the back or non-mating end of the tube 12 there projects an annular collar 14 on which slides a locking member 32 and at the back is a screw-threaded portion 16 to which a cable-anchor may be secured. Slightly forward of the collar 14 there is a raised barb 17 over which there is secured a latch or ring 18 of plastic ma terial having a barb receiving passageway in its internal surface for receiving the barb 17 and carrying a plurality of forwardly cantilevered tines 19 (see FIG. 3). Forward of the ring 18 there is a spring 20 biasing a retaining member or ring 21 against the back end of the splines 13, and on the ring 18 there is a second collar 31 on which the locking member 32 also slides. The ring 18 carrying the tines l9 and the retaining ring 21 should be split rings in order to facilitate assembly, since the split in ring 18 facilitates its expansion for passage over the barb 17 and the subsequent contraction of the split ring for receiving the barb 17 in the barb receiving passageway. The split in retaining member 21 functions in a similar manner for passing the member 21 over splines 13 and receiving the member 21 between the internal surface of the tines and the external surface of the tube 12 and between the spring 20 and the rear end of splines 13.

Each tine 19 comprises a relatively narrow neck 22 carrying a thicker head 23 with a latching surface or notch 24 on the inside and a camming surface 25 comprising two planes meeting at a ridge 26 which is on the outside and slightly to the rear of the notch 24.

The locking member 32 comprises a sleeve 15 surrounding the tines 19 and having a front-stop 27 projecting inwardly at its forward end. At a distance equal to the length of the tine-heads 23 back from the front stop 27 there is an inwardly projecting camming surface 28 engaging a first portion of camming surfaces 25 and for cooperating with the camming surfaces 25 of the tines. The engagement of surface 28 with the first portion of surface 25 holds the sleeve 15 against movement in the mating or push direction relative to the latch and the engagement of front stop 27 with the tine or latch end holds the sleeve 15 against movement in the pull or disengaging direction relative to the latch. The sleeve 15 projects back beyohd the collar 14 and ends with a back-stop 29 which is inserted into a groove 30 after the rest of the plug 10 has been assembled. The outside of the sleeve 15 carries ridges 33 to facilitate gripping the sleeve 15.

The receptacle indicated at is shown in FIG. 2 and comprises a tubular nose with a raised rim 41 near its mating end and an annular locking groove 42 immediately behind the rim 41 to form a latch surface on the receptacle or member 40, i.e., on the side away from the mating end to engage the latch surface on each tine 19. Inside the tubular nose of receptacle 40 are electrical sockets or plugs for mating with the plugs or sockets of the connector plug 10.

Operation is as follows: to connect the first part or plug to the second part or receptacle 40, the sleeve 15 is taken in the hand and the plug 10 is mated axially with the receptacle by passing the receptacle over the splines 13 to engage or mate with the retaining member in response to the push movement of the locking member or sleeve 15 and the plug or part 10 relative to the other part or receptacle along the axis 11. Initially the sleeve 15 is prevented from moving forward along the plug 10 by the tines 19 which are prevented from moving inwards or toward the axis 11 by the retaining ring 21 in its first position. However, as the receptacle slides over the tube 12 it engages the retaining ring 21 and pushes it backwards along the plug 10 against the resilience of the spring 20. This action releases the tines which are then prevented from moving inwards only by the rim 41 of the receptacle 40. When the receptacle 40 is fully engaged with the plug 10, the rim 41 lies ad- 5 jacent the notches 24 and the retaining member 21 is in a second position so that continued push movement of the sleeve 15 towards the receptacle 40 causes the sleeve 15 to slide forward along the plug 10 and moves the cam surface 28 against or relative to cam surface 25. The camming surface 28 then rides along the camming surfaces 25 of the tines 19 urging them inwards or toward the axis 11 until the camming surface 28 reaches the ridges 26 after which continued forward movement of the sleeve 15 to engage cam surface 28 with a second portion of cam surface 25 allows a slight outward movement of the tines 19 before the sleeve 15 is stopped by the back stop 29 engaging the collar 14. The position reached is shown in FIG. 2; the heads 23 of the tines are engaged in the groove 42 of the receptacle with the latching surface on each tine arranged to engage a latching surface on the receptacle to hold the parts engaged, and the sleeve 15 is held in position against a slight mechanical resistance by the interaction of the camming surfaces 28 and 25 and by the resilience of the tines 19. Thus the heads 23 of the tines be tween the periphery of the retaining member 21 and the cam surface 28 are moved toward the locking position with the cam surfaces of the tines having a slight radially outward inclination as seen in FIG. 2 to engage cam 25 at a second surface portion with cam 28 and providea force resisting inadvertent retraction of the locking member in a direction for unmating the parts.

Thus, the connecting consists of a single forward push movement of the sleeve 15 which first has the effect of moving the plug 10 relative to the receptacle 40 in one direction along the axis for engaging the plug 10 with the receptacle 40, and subsequently has the effect of locking the plug 10 to the receptacle 40 by means of relative movement of the sleeve 15 along the plug 10.

Disconnection is simply the reverse procedure; by pulling the sleeve 15 away from the receptacle 40, the plug 10 and the receptacle 40 are unlocked by the sleeve 15 sliding back along the plug 10, and are then pulled apart by the sleeve front-stop 27 engaging the heads 23 of the tines 19. It will be noted that the front stop overlaps and protects the plastic tines with the tines nestingly received by the ring 15 between the cam surface 28 and the front stop. The retaining ring 21 follows the receptacle 40 out of the plug 10 until stopped by the end of the spline 13. In this position, i.e., as shown in FIG. 1, the retaining ring 21 prevents any relative movement in either direction of the sleeve 15 relative to the plug 10 until the second part or receptacle 40 is again engaged.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, means for resiliently biasing the mounted retaining member into a first position in which it prevents the tine from moving into a locking position with said retaining member having a second position into which it is moved against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first and second parts, the tine being free to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface engaging the cam surface of the latch to prevent movement of said locking member in one direction relative to the latch when said retaining member is in said first position, said locking member movable in a push movement in said one direction with said first part relative to said second part to mate said first part to said second part for moving said retaining member to said second position whereafter the cam surface of the locking member is movable in said one direction against the cam surface on said latch to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction toward the axis into the locking position to cause the latch surface on said tine to engage the latch surface on said second part, and means on said locking member engaging said latch in response to said retaining member being in said first position for holding said locking member against movement relative to said latch in a direction opposite said one direction.

2. The connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking member is a sleeve axially slidable on the first part and the cam surface on said locking member moves from engagement with a first surface portion of the cam surface on said latch to engage a second surface portion of the cam surface on said latch in response to the movement of the cam surface of said locking member against the cam surface of said latch for providing a force resisting inadvertent retraction of said locking member in a direction for unmating the parts.

3. The connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch includes a plurality of tines, and said means on said locking member for preventing movement in said opposite direction includes a front stop on said locking member.

4. The connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein the tines are made from a single piece of material, and said locking member overlaps each tine and nestingly receives each tine between the cam surface of said locking member and the front stop to thereby protect said tines.

5. A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, said tine formed of a self-lubricating material, means for resiliently biasing the mounted retaining member into a first position in which the tine is prevented from moving into a locking position with said retaining member movable into a second position against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first part and the second part for enabling the tine to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, and one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface on said movable locking member movable relative to the cam surface of the latch, the cam surfaces being arranged to cooperate in response to said retaining member moving to said second position to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis into the locking position to engage the latch surface on said tine with the latch surface on the second part.

6. A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, the retaining member formed in a split ring axially slidable along the first part and mounted on said first part inwardly of a portion of the tine, means for resiliently biasing the mounted retaining member into a first position for preventing the tine from moving into a locking position with said retaining member movable into a second position against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first part and the second part for enabling the tine to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, and one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface on said movable locking member movable relative to the cam surface of the latch, the cam surfaces being arranged to cooperate in response to said retaining member moving to said second position to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis into the locking position to engage the latch surface on said second part.

7. A connector of the type including a first part arranged for longitudinal movement in one direction along an axis and relative to a second part for engagement with said second part and for movement in the opposite direction along said axis to disengage said first part from said second part comprising:

a retaining member movably carried on said first part and engaged by said second part in response to the movement of said first part relative to said second part in said one direction,

a latch on said first part having a split ring portion and a plurality of resilient tines projecting from said split ring portion with each tine having a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface,

means for biasing said retaining member into a first position for engaging said tines to prevent movement of said tines toward said axis with said retaining member movable into a second position against the bias of said means in response to the engagement of said second part with said retaining means for enabling the tines to move toward said axis into a locking position,

a latch surface on the second part,

one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface movable relative to the cam surface of said tines, the cam surfaces of said locking member and tines arranged to cooperate in response to the movement of said parts along said axis to move the cantilevered end of the tines against their resilience in a direction toward the axis into said locking position to engage the latch surface on each tine with the latch surface on said second part,

a barb, and

a barb receiving passageway for engaging said barb to hold said split ring portion engaged with said first part.

8. A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, means for resiliently biasing the mounted retaining member into a first position in which it prevents the tine from moving into a locking position with said retaining member having a second position into which it is moved against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first and second parts, the tine being free to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, and one of the parts having a movable locking member with-a cam surface engaging a first surface portion of the cam surface of the latch, said locking member movable in a push movement with said first part relative to said second part to mate said first part to said second part for moving said retaining member to said second position whereafter the cam surface of the locking member is movable against the cam surface of the latch independently of any spring bias along said axis to engage a second surface portion of the cam surface of the latch, the cam surfaces being arranged to cooperate, in response to the movement of the cam surface of the locking member to said second surface portion of the cam surface of the latch to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction toward the axis into the locking position to cause the latch surface on said tine to engage the latch surface on said second part, said locking member arranged for pull movement relative to said first part and said second part independently of any spring bias along said axis to disengage the cam surface on said locking member from the second surface portion of the cam surface on said latch and in the same pull movement to disengage said first part from said second part for enabling said retaining member to move to said first position in response to the bias on said retaining member. 

1. A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, means for resiliently biasing the mounted retaining member into a first position in which it prevents the tine from moving into a locking position with said retaining member having a second position into which it is moved against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first and second parts, the tine being free to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface engaging the cam surface of the latch to prevent movement of said locking member in one direction relative to the latch when said retaining member is in said first position, said locking member movable in a push movement in said one direction with said first part relative to said second part to mate said first part to said second part for moving said retaining member to said second position whereafter the cam surface of the locking member is movable in said one direction against the cam surface on said latch to move the cantilEvered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction toward the axis into the locking position to cause the latch surface on said tine to engage the latch surface on said second part, and means on said locking member engaging said latch in response to said retaining member being in said first position for holding said locking member against movement relative to said latch in a direction opposite said one direction.
 2. The connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking member is a sleeve axially slidable on the first part and the cam surface on said locking member moves from engagement with a first surface portion of the cam surface on said latch to engage a second surface portion of the cam surface on said latch in response to the movement of the cam surface of said locking member against the cam surface of said latch for providing a force resisting inadvertent retraction of said locking member in a direction for unmating the parts.
 3. The connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch includes a plurality of tines, and said means on said locking member for preventing movement in said opposite direction includes a front stop on said locking member.
 4. The connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein the tines are made from a single piece of material, and said locking member overlaps each tine and nestingly receives each tine between the cam surface of said locking member and the front stop to thereby protect said tines.
 5. A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, said tine formed of a self-lubricating material, means for resiliently biasing the mounted retaining member into a first position in which the tine is prevented from moving into a locking position with said retaining member movable into a second position against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first part and the second part for enabling the tine to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, and one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface on said movable locking member movable relative to the cam surface of the latch, the cam surfaces being arranged to cooperate in response to said retaining member moving to said second position to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis into the locking position to engage the latch surface on said tine with the latch surface on the second part.
 6. A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, the retaining member formed in a split ring axially slidable along the first part and mounted on said first part inwardly of a portion of the tine, means for resiliently biasing the mounted retaining member into a first position for preventing the tine from moving into a locking position with said retaining member movable into a second position against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first part and the second part for enabling the tine to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, and one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface on said movable locking member movable relative to the cam surface of the latch, the cam surfaces being arranged to cooperate in response to said retaining member moving to said second position to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction substantially perpendicular To the axis into the locking position to engage the latch surface on said second part.
 7. A connector of the type including a first part arranged for longitudinal movement in one direction along an axis and relative to a second part for engagement with said second part and for movement in the opposite direction along said axis to disengage said first part from said second part comprising: a retaining member movably carried on said first part and engaged by said second part in response to the movement of said first part relative to said second part in said one direction, a latch on said first part having a split ring portion and a plurality of resilient tines projecting from said split ring portion with each tine having a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, means for biasing said retaining member into a first position for engaging said tines to prevent movement of said tines toward said axis with said retaining member movable into a second position against the bias of said means in response to the engagement of said second part with said retaining means for enabling the tines to move toward said axis into a locking position, a latch surface on the second part, one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface movable relative to the cam surface of said tines, the cam surfaces of said locking member and tines arranged to cooperate in response to the movement of said parts along said axis to move the cantilevered end of the tines against their resilience in a direction toward the axis into said locking position to engage the latch surface on each tine with the latch surface on said second part, a barb, and a barb receiving passageway for engaging said barb to hold said split ring portion engaged with said first part.
 8. A connector comprising first and second parts arranged for relative longitudinal push-pull movement along an axis into and out of connection with one another, the first part having a mounted retaining member and a latch comprising a resilient tine with a cantilevered end including a latch surface and a cam surface, means for resiliently biasing the mounted retaining member into a first position in which it prevents the tine from moving into a locking position with said retaining member having a second position into which it is moved against the resilient bias by the action of mating the first and second parts, the tine being free to move into the locking position when the retaining member is in the second position, the second part having a latch surface, and one of the parts having a movable locking member with a cam surface engaging a first surface portion of the cam surface of the latch, said locking member movable in a push movement with said first part relative to said second part to mate said first part to said second part for moving said retaining member to said second position whereafter the cam surface of the locking member is movable against the cam surface of the latch independently of any spring bias along said axis to engage a second surface portion of the cam surface of the latch, the cam surfaces being arranged to cooperate, in response to the movement of the cam surface of the locking member to said second surface portion of the cam surface of the latch to move the cantilevered end of the tine against its resilience in a direction toward the axis into the locking position to cause the latch surface on said tine to engage the latch surface on said second part, said locking member arranged for pull movement relative to said first part and said second part independently of any spring bias along said axis to disengage the cam surface on said locking member from the second surface portion of the cam surface on said latch and in the same pull movement to disengage said first part from said second part for enabling said retaining member to move to said first position in response to the bias on said retaining member. 